Application: MediaCoder
Category: Music & Video
Description: MediaCoder is a free universal batch media transcoder, which nicely integrates most popular audio/video codecs and tools into an all-in-one solution. MediaCoder allows you to convert, transcode, and decode dozens of the most popular audio and video formats.
Download MediaCoder Portable 0.6.1.4166 Development Test 1 [17.3MB download / 23.2MB installed]
(MD5: 92f9b1a02cb65838464687224f61fa2a)
Release Notes:
Development Test 1 (2008-08-08):
- Updated to version 0.6.1.4166
- Updated PortableApps.com Installer version to 0.10.1
- Added "Vista" 256 pixel icon as per latest PAF Spec Outline
Development Test 1 (2008-07-15):
- Updated to version 0.6.1.4135
- Updated PortableApps.com Installer to version 0.9.9.5
Development Test 1 (2008-06-09):
- Updated to version 0.6.1.4115
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Is this the one where you need to be connected to the internet to use it?
Tim
Things have got to get better, they can't get worse, or can they?
I don't think you do. It only went the to MediaCoder homepage on startup, but that option is disabled in the portable version by default.
Alright, I decided to stop being lazy and updated MediaCoder to the latest version. Well, technically 0.6.1.4135 isn't out as a full package, but as an update package, so I decided to get ahead of the game early and just use the update package.
Lemme know if anyone has issues with it. Thanks.
"Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build bigger and better idiot-proof programs, and the Universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the Universe is winning." - Rick Cook
I wanted to try this out but it says you need Firefox installed to use it. I removed Firefox from my drive after unsatisfactory performance of 3 and have been using K-Meleon Portable instead.
You don't need Firefox to use MediaCoder. I have no idea where you might have got that from?
"Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build bigger and better idiot-proof programs, and the Universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the Universe is winning." - Rick Cook
To change any of the settings it says you need Firefox installed. I went to Options>Browser Setup and pointed it to the K-MeleonPortable.exe and it worked. Probably because they're both Mozilla based.
MediaCoder now allow the inclusion of XULRunner, a standalone Firefox runtime environment that doesn't interfere with your current Firefox installation if you choose to install it. This way, there is no chance of breaking your normal Firefox installation.
I know that during the installation you can choose to store the programs settings in the installation folder instead of AppData, which could be useful.
I just updated MediaCoder Portable to version 0.6.1.4166 (don't you just hate their version system?). Take a look above for more information.
"Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build bigger and better idiot-proof programs, and the Universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the Universe is winning." - Rick Cook
Getting an error incorrect parameters for Nero Encoder.
Nero Encoder is used for the lc-acc for some reason with this version the settings I've been using with previous versions of Mediacoder do not work
I've never had such an error. My only suggestion (ATM) would be to delete the MediaCoderPortable folder and reinstall.
"Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build bigger and better idiot-proof programs, and the Universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the Universe is winning." - Rick Cook
Apparently this is the earlier version of 4166. There's an update on the mediacoder site which resolves this issue. I downloaded it, extracted it using Universal Extractor, and copied the files over the top of the others, most are in app/mediacoder and one is in data/settings.
When launching MediaCoder, I get a popup with the following error - Unable to access registry for system font information. Once I acknowledge that, the MediaCoder window comes up.
This is on an XP system where I don't have admin rights.
It's a known bug. I'm not sure if it's a MediaCoder Portable thing, but if you just hit okay everything will work fine. I've found that with admin rights you won't get the error, so I'm pretty sure it's a problem with MediaCoder looking for the registry, but it can't as a limited user.
"Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build bigger and better idiot-proof programs, and the Universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the Universe is winning." - Rick Cook
LUA bug. Strangely enough, if I run it on Vista with XP compatibility set, I don't get the error.
Vintage!
MediaCoder is awesome! I've been looking for a good video transcoder forever to copy my DVD movies to my iPod, and MediaCoder is the best one I've seen. The interface is easy to use and transcoding is fast... even better that it's free (in both senses)--and portable!
MediaCoder (regular version) has problems with Vista and Fx 3. I would recommend holding off on a final release until this has been resolved. Also, MediaCoder is at 4190 (released today in fact), so you may want to update.
Vintage!
MediaCoder includes a lot of codecs for which the author does not have any rights to distribute them.
The most notable infringements are:
- Distribution of Nero Digital HE-AAC Encoder, Copyright Nero AG
- Distribution of Sony ATRAC3 Codec for RealAudio, Copyright RealNetworks, Inc.
- Distribution of MP3Pro Input Plugin, Copyright Coding Technologies GmbH
The author of MediaCoder is aware of the infringements, but refuses to remove the problematic codecs. This was discussed with the author on HydrogenAudio.org earlier this year in this forum thread.
I think that distributing MediaCoder with these codecs could make PortableApps.com liable for copyright infringement. It would be better to remove the codecs from the PortableApps.com version - if not discontinue to distribute MediaCoder entirely.
That thread is about "MediaCoder Audio Edition" which is an unofficial/unapproved package of MediaCoder+all those non-free codecs. MediaCoder itself is open source and doesn't include those closed-source codecs to my knowledge.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
You are exactly right John. There are no non-OSS codecs included in MediaCoder (Portable). When you try to use these codecs, it offers you a site from which you can download these codecs. So, there is no illegal distribution.
"Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build bigger and better idiot-proof programs, and the Universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the Universe is winning." - Rick Cook
That's true for the Fraunhofer MP3 and AMR codecs.
However, Nero AAC, ATRAC3, RealVideo etc. are included in the distribution. Just downloaded and installed MediaCoder Portable 0.6.1.4166 Test 1 to check that and the codecs are definitely included.
The DLL and EXE files are in app\MediaCoder\codecs. For example neroAacEnc.exe, atrc3260.dll (ATRAC3), drv43260.dll (RealVideo 9).
I'll look into that, but I'm positive this distribution is legal. I also hope to post a new version later today.
Edit:
Correct me if I'm wrong, but the Sony ATRAC codec included is not illegally distributed, and can be distributed freely. Also, the RealVideo codec used in this package is from the Helix open source RealNetworks project. It is not the actual proprietary codec. I will look into this a little more, but my guess is that MediaCoder either got permission from the companies who made the codecs or have found open source alternatives.
"Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build bigger and better idiot-proof programs, and the Universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the Universe is winning." - Rick Cook
I've confirmed that the Nero-copyrighted encoders are included with MediaCoder. Is there any public discussion with the author about this we can refer to on this? The previously linked discussion was for a special unofficial package of MediaCoder Audio Edition, not MediaCoder. We should ensure the actual MediaCoder author is aware and, if he is and is ignoring this, we should make SourceForge aware as this is a violation of their terms of service.
Sometimes, the impossible can become possible, if you're awesome!
MediaCoder Audio Edition is not an unofficial edition.
There are multiple official editions of MediaCoder: Full Edition, Audio Edition and several Special Editions (trimmed for various portable players). All of them are released officially by the MediaCoder project on mediacoder.sourceforge.net.
The user that promoted MediaCoder Audio Edition on Hydrogenaudio.org, optimus, is the MediaCoder project lead Stanley Huang. That is clear from his earlier comments there.
So the MediaCoder project lead is fully aware of these problems. I think it's also clear from his comments in the before mentioned thread, that he did not accquire any licenses from the affected companies.
Unfortunately, after being confronted with copyright violation issues on the Hydrogenaudio forums, he never showed any activity there again.
Well, I was going to release a new version of MediaCoder tonight, but I suppose that with the evidence we have here, I will suspend the project until further notice, due to the copyright violations.
After looking at the licenses for the aforementioned codecs, it appears they cannot be even distributed freely, so it would also be illegal to have a separate download of sorts.
If anyone has any better ideas for the continuation of this project (or better apps), please let me know.
"Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build bigger and better idiot-proof programs, and the Universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the Universe is winning." - Rick Cook
If the app itself is open-source, why couldn't we just remove the offending codecs and distribute the portable version without them? That seems the most appropriate course of action.
MediaCoder itself is great and I'd hate to give it up. I haven't found a better video transcoder yet.
The codecs included in the MediaCoder distribution are not the ones from the Helix project. Instead they are taken one-to-one from the closed source RealPlayer.
Also, the codec DLLs included in HelixProducer all include the hint "Source code for this program is available under the RealNetworks Public Source License." in the version information. The RealPlayer DLLs do not contain this hint, as they are proprietary non open source codecs.
It's also worth mentioning that there is no ATRAC codec in the open source Helix projects - in fact there is no open source ATRAC codec anywhere. Sony charges patent licensing fees on a per copy basis for distribution of ATRAC codecs. That's why there is no open source converter for these files.
Good to see ya.
Hope this coming along okay still
PortableApps.com Advocate
From what I remember from the past, some components of MediaCoder use the Gecko engine from Firefox.
Yeah, it does require Firefox. You can just point it at the App\firefox directory of FFP, though, or even just copy a clean installation of FF (preferably FF2, FF3 and MediaCoder don't get along under Vista for some reason) into App\MediaCoder\firefox.
I will agree that depending on components of a Web browser for a program like this is being lazy, though. Even by programmer standards.
Why are you so afraid of making a portable version of the new program? This program was made in '05. Its 08. If nero, realnetworks, or coding technology's wants to copyright their stuff, then they need to get off their lazy butt and do something about this.
Why not either a) remove the copyrighted codecs, or b) have someone upload it to megaupload or some site like that,then just link it. This way, pa can say its linking to the site, not hosting it. If you think this isn't going to work, i can show you proof of several torrent sites that have been able to evade the authorities by saying they LINK content, not host it.
Why are you so afraid of making a portable version of the new program? This program was made in '05. Its 08. If nero, realnetworks, or coding technology's wants to copyright their stuff, then they need to get off their lazy butt and do something about this.
They may eventually do something. Its a respect thing.
Why not either a) remove the copyrighted codecs, or b) have someone upload it to megaupload or some site like that,then just link it. This way, pa can say its linking to the site, not hosting it. If you think this isn't going to work, i can show you proof of several torrent sites that have been able to evade the authorities by saying they LINK content, not host it.
Removing the copyright codecs has been discussed. That's what may happen. It is not portable by defualt, which is why we made a launcher for it. We do not tend to follow the lead the of torrent sites. Alot of us like, nay, love OpenSource and its freedoms.
Also, in a way, we would be hosting the content. Or sourceforge would, and source forge would make trouble for us.
Too many lonely hearts in the real world
Too many bridges you can burn
Too many tables you can't turn
Don't wanna live my life in the real world
really cool everything works good for me on xp
Any word on a more current version?
Go ahead and read further up the thread here. It seems that MediaCoder is a little on the grey area regarding legality.
"Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build bigger and better idiot-proof programs, and the Universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the Universe is winning." - Rick Cook
OK, I thought it was open source software, and thus could be repackaged without the questionable codecs involved, since the codecs can be downloaded separately, and perhaps it could be changed to use open source codec versions that would work in place of certain ones. But I do realize this would be a lot of work and I for one don't have the required knowledge to do it. I'll have to try working around it, but so far this is the best reencoder that I've found. I like to use it and a couple other tools for getting videos to have the same stats then I can splice them together with other tools and make coherent videos/short movies without having to go buy closed source software. I prefer using open source if it's available and I thought this used mencoder for a back end which is open source, it's just certain codecs that are the problem, and I don't install most of the codecs anyway, just the few that work with the video's I've captured using other open source software.
Incidentally this package, which is still available here for download works in conjunction with the 0.6.2 build 4200 update, I simply uncompressed the update using uniextract, and coppied the files over the top of the old ones, keeping a copy of the initial directory while I tested it, it seems to work ok for the stuff I use it for. Haven't tried it with the newer 4230 yet though.
Running the update installer (has to be the UPDATE, not the full installer) and having it install into App\MediaCoder works just fine, too. No need to extract it manually...
This has worked for all the MediaCoder updates I've installed, including the latest (4230).
Just checking if there has been any changes in the status of this app regards to acceptability into the portableapps.com fold. If so the base app has been updated. If not does anyone know of any alternative OSS audio and or video converters? Also a good OSS audio tagger?
PortableApps.com Advocate
I'd say this is somewhat dead-ish. I've been considering taking out the codecs that have been disputed, but I haven't had a chance to speak with John about that. Until then, you should be able to place the latest version of MediaCoder on top of the version included with this launcher and work fine. If not, then take a look at Patrick's BonkEnc Portable, which is a pretty good audio encoder. For MP3 tagging, I'm partial to mp3Tag. I don't believe it's open source though.
Hope that answers all of your questions.
"Programming today is a race between software engineers striving to build bigger and better idiot-proof programs, and the Universe trying to produce bigger and better idiots. So far, the Universe is winning." - Rick Cook
Hello there and Thank you for this portable version!
I am having some issues regarding settings saving for MediaCoder Portable 0.6.1.4166 running on Windows Vista Home Premium Sp1 x86: when I start MediaCoderPortable, one folder gets created in "C:\Users\NAME\AppData\Roaming\Broad Intelligence\", named "MediaCoder", with two files: "prefs.xml" and "rss.xml". This wouldn't be much trouble, but when I close the app, these settings are not transferred in "Data\settings" folder thus they are not portable.
I did a clean install with no luck.
Anyone can confirm this? If so, any thoughts?
Thank you!
I am a 3D body trapping a single dimension soul !
With version 0.7.0 final, if during install you choose "store data in program folder", this problem is gone.
I am a 3D body trapping a single dimension soul !
How about a launcher for FormatFactory? Seems a pretty solid app and would be good to get ready for the long awaited freeware support
PortableApps.com Advocate
It crushes whenever I change process priority for encoding.
Doesn't matter whether ti is High Normal Lower Lowes or Idle.
Behaviour: Crash
Action: Changing process priority
Reproducible: Yes
Occurence: Always
Version: 0.6.1.4166 Development Test 1
that this is no longer viable due to rights.
I came across this I think first with Ryan, then Kevin. I looked over the Betas and Pre-Releases, and nothing else is there.
Is the latest version, 0.7.0 rc 2, free of these problems?
Don't be an uberPr∅. They are stinky.
Theres a launcher for FormatFactory here in the forums
PortableApps.com Advocate
I have downloaded this program twice and each time I get a checksum of 089bfecd8d8a41bfe66c4a69468e878c
I can confirm that checksum. Perhaps the last time he updated he forgot to change the checksum in the post. It happens.
Quamquam omniam nescio, nec nihil scio.
I have tried to run this on both vista and xp, but program fails to load and displays an error box, with error description "error initializing preference tree".
Is this portable version ever gonna be updated?
I am looking for a .flv converter. Is there something different than this ? since the link is dead, plus the issues it has or had don't seem to be taken care of. I know it's an old post, but this was what I came across while looking.